You are doing a history assessment on a new patient that was just transferred to your unit. As you ask her questions she eludes that she is living with family who are supposed to be caring for her but they are taking her retirement checks and only giving her very little of it. What type of abuse would you consider?

Choice A reason: Palpating tender areas first may cause patient discomfort and guarding, reducing assessment accuracy. Palpation uses the palmar side or finger pads, starting with non-tender areas. Assuming this risks poor technique, potentially missing subtle findings like masses or edema, critical for comprehensive physical assessment in clinical practice.

Choice B reason: Palpation uses the palmar side of the hands or finger pads for light or deep touch to assess texture, tenderness, or masses. This technique ensures sensitivity and accuracy, detecting abnormalities like organ enlargement or fluid accumulation. Proper palpation is essential for thorough physical exams, guiding diagnosis and care planning effectively.

Choice C reason: Short, quick taps define percussion, not palpation, which involves sustained touch to assess underlying structures. Confusing these techniques risks incorrect assessment, missing findings like organ size or tenderness. Palpation’s distinct method using finger pads ensures accurate detection, critical for identifying abnormalities in physical examinations.

Choice D reason: Using a stethoscope is for auscultation, not palpation, which relies on manual touch with finger pads or palms. Assuming stethoscope use misaligns with palpation’s purpose, risking incomplete assessment of tactile findings like masses or swelling, essential for accurate diagnosis and effective patient care planning.

Choice A reason: Urinary retention, the inability to void, is caused by bladder or prostate issues, not dietary fiber intake. Fiber affects gastrointestinal motility, not urinary function. High-fiber diets promote bowel regularity but have no direct impact on bladder emptying, making this choice incorrect.

Choice B reason: High-fiber diets prevent constipation by adding bulk to stool and promoting peristalsis, facilitating regular bowel movements. Fiber absorbs water, softening stool and reducing straining, which is critical for patients with poor nutrition, like Mr. Green, making this the correct choice for dietary intervention.

Choice C reason: Stress incontinence, urine leakage during physical stress, results from weakened pelvic muscles or sphincter dysfunction, not dietary factors. Fiber influences bowel health, not bladder control, so this choice is unrelated to the preventive benefits of a high-fiber diet in gastrointestinal function.

Choice D reason: Hiatal hernia, where the stomach protrudes through the diaphragm, is linked to anatomical or pressure factors, not fiber intake. Fiber supports bowel regularity but does not address esophageal or diaphragmatic issues, making this choice irrelevant to the benefits of high-fiber diets.